A COMPARATIVE INSIGHT INTO THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF N-HEXANE EXTRACTS OF MALE AND FEMALE TREE LEAVES OF CARICA PAPAYA LINN AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES.

Abstract

Background: The growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance has increased interest in plant-derived alternatives for managing infections, as conventional treatments are becoming less effective against rapidly spreading resistant bacterial strains. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of n-hexane extracts derived from the leaves of male and female Carica papaya tree leaves against clinically isolated strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Methodology: The extracts were tested at various concentrations (20–100 mg/mL) using the agar well diffusion technique. Moxifloxacin was used as the positive control, while acetone served as the negative control. Results: Results indicate a concentration-dependent response, with no activity observed at 20–60 mg/mL and notable effects only at concentrations ≥80 mg/mL. The highest antibacterial efficacy was recorded at 100 mg/mL, with E. coli showing the greatest sensitivity, followed by S. epidermidis and S. aureus, while K. pneumoniae was the least sensitive, particularly to the female extract. Conclusion: Male leaf extracts generally produced slightly larger inhibition zones against Gram-negative bacteria, suggesting marginally greater potency. However, both extracts showed comparable activity against Gram-positive strains. These findings highlight the potential of C. papaya leaf extracts as natural antibacterial agents, especially at higher concentrations. Further research is needed to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these effects.